Lighter with a tinted flame, a tinting composition therefor, and a refill element

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tinted flame lighter having a tank (1000) suitable for containing a mixture (L) under pressure of a tinting agent and of a flammable volatile liquid. The lighter includes a porous filter (1020) suitable for expanding the mixture delivered to the outside of the tank for burning while it is at least partially in the liquid state, and means for feeding the porous filter with the mixture in the liquid state.

The present invention relates to the field of lighters producing atinted flame.

Two methods of tinting the flame of a lighter are known.

The first consists in spraying a tinting agent onto the flame, e.g. ametal dissolved in an alcohol solution, which solution is contained in aspecific tank separate from the tank containing the liquid fuel.

The second consists in directly mixing the tinting agent in the liquidfuel that is used to produce the flame of the lighter. This method ismore difficult to implement than the first, particularly if it isdesired for the liquid fuel to be a flammable volatile liquid that isstored under pressure, since it is necessary to ensure simultaneouslythat the tinting agent is properly mixed in the flammable volatileliquid used and also that the tinting agent is entrained properly andregularly out from the lighter, in particular while avoiding prematuredissociation of the mixture as it expands since that can lead toproblems of the burner clogging or of the flame being irregularlytinted.

Japanese publication JP-A-63 058 021 describes a lighter containing inits tank both a tinting composition and a liquefied gas forming a phasethat is distinct from the tinting composition and that overlies it.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a novel lighterenabling the flame to be tinted by using a tinting agent mixed with aflammable volatile liquid stored under pressure in the same tank as thetinting agent.

According to a first advantageous characteristic of the invention, themixture of tinting agent and of flammable volatile liquid forms only oneliquid phase in the tank.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, thelighter includes a porous filter suitable for expanding the flammablemixture delivered to the outside of the tank at least partially in theliquid state for burning and means for feeding said porous filter withsaid mixture in the liquid state. Preferably, at least one capillarytube is disposed in series with the porous filter.

The use of a porous filter fed with the flammable mixture in the liquidstate, and preferably associated with at least one capillary tube, makesit possible to bring the mixture at least partially in the liquid stateto the outside of the tank, thereby making it possible to avoid theabove-mentioned problems by ensuring that the tinting agent is properlyentrained outside the tank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture expanded by theporous filter is delivered into a vaporization duct situated outside thetank and subjected while the lighter is in use to the heat given off bythe flame.

In some embodiments of the invention, the lighter includes a capillarytube extending downstream from the porous filter to deliver the mixtureto the outside of the tank after it has passed through the porousfilter. Advantageously, the inside diameter of the capillary tubeextending downstream from the porous filter lies in the range 0.25 mm to0.4 mm.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vaporization duct is formed by avaporization duct tube connected end to end with one end of thecapillary tube extending downstream from the porous filter, saidvaporization duct tube having an inside diameter greater than the insidediameter of the capillary tube. The vaporization duct tube preferablyhas a curvilinear portion extending upwards around the axis of the flameand a free end opening out on the axis of the flame. Advantageously,between its free end and said curvilinear portion, the vaporization ducttube has a downwardly inclined portion such that said free end issituated below a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flame andtangential to said curvilinear portion. Advantageously, the insidediameter of the vaporization duct tube lies in the range 0.5 mm and 1mm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vaporization duct isintegrated in a part forming a flame guard. Advantageously, thevaporization duct is formed between two assembled together stamped metalsheets of the part forming the flame guard. Advantageously, thecapillary tube situated downstream from the porous filter is connectedto one end of the vaporization duct. The duct extends along a convexcurve towards the axis of the flame and connects with an outlet tubeopening out on the axis of the flame below a plane perpendicular to theaxis of the flame and tangential to the top of said curve.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vaporization duct has aheat-conducting wire running along the inside thereof and extending fromthe duct into the core of the flame when the lighter is in use. Thevaporization duct is then preferably formed in a body for closing thelighter.

Numerous known compositions have been proposed for tinting the flame ofa lighter. Reference may be made, for example, to the followingpublications: FR-2 675 243, FR-2 651 861, FR-2 650 878, FR-2 639 635,and FR-2 615 597. To tint a flame, those publications describe the useof a borate in suspension in the butane of a liquefied gas lighter, of agelled boron methanolate, or of metal salts in solution for impregnatingthe wick of a lighter. Those compositions do not give entiresatisfaction.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a tinting compositionsuitable for use in a lighter of the above-specified type, in particulara composition that enables the flame of a butane gas lighter to betinted.

According to the invention, this composition is characterized in that itcomprises, in solution in alcohol, a tinting agent suitable, on burning,for imparting a desired tint to the flame. The alcohol in question isadvantageously methanol or ethanol. The tinting agent may be a metalsalt or an alkali metal salt, a derivative of boric acid, or an oxide ofan alkali metal.

The composition can be used directly mixed with the butane of a gaslighter in the tank thereof, so as to be conveyed simultaneously withthe gas to the outside of the tank for burning; in a variant, it mayalso be subjected to gelling treatment so as to be used subsequently inthe form of a gel in the gas outlet duct of a lighter to charge the gaswith tinting agent as it passes through; it may also be used toimpregnate a medium, e.g. a porous substance, placed in the gas outletduct of the lighter to charge the gas with tinting agent as it passesthrough.

Thus, in another aspect the invention also provides a butane gas lighterincluding such a composition, and a refill element for such a lighter,in the form of a liquid gas refill including the composition, a gel, ora medium impregnated with the composition.

In a first embodiment of a composition of the invention, intended toimpart a green tint to the flame, the composition comprises 19 grams perliter (g/l) to 160 g/l of orthoboric acid in solution in methanol ofpurity greater than or equal to 99.8%. When said composition is mixeddirectly with the butane in the tank of the lighter, it is preferable touse 30% by mass of liquefied butane and 70% of a solution comprising 40g/l of orthoboric acid in methanol. Unexpectedly, the Applicant hasobserved that the composition having the above-specified proportions isstable (no decomposition, no separation of phases when used in the range0° C. to 40° C. at 1 bar to 3 bars) and provides a flame withoutsputtering, and that the combustion products are non-toxic. It is alsopossible to use 20% to 80% butane and obtain satisfactory results.

In another embodiment of a composition of the invention, intended toimpart a red tint to the flame, it is preferable to use a solution oflithium formate in methanol at a concentration in the range 7 g/l to 10g/l. The methanol is preferably methanol having purity of 99.8% minimum.

Finally, a composition of the invention makes it possible to impart aparticularly stable tint to the flame. The composition is alsocompletely stable, which makes it possible, in particular, to gel it, orto use it to impregnate a medium. Finally, the combustion products arenon-toxic for all of the above-described compositions giving green andred tints.

Other characteristics and advantage of the invention appear on readingthe following detailed description of seven non-limiting embodiments ofthe invention, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section view of a lighter comprising a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show certain component parts of the FIG. 1 lighterin isolation;

FIG. 3 is an axial section view of a lighter comprising a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D show certain component parts of the FIG. 3lighter in isolation;

FIG. 5 is an axial section view of a lighter comprising a thirdembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6F show certain component parts of the FIG. 5 lighter inisolation;

FIG. 7 is an axial section view of a lighter comprising a fourthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an axial section view of a lighter comprising a fifthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows, on a larger scale, and in isolation the vaporization ductshown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view seen along arrow X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an axial section view of a sixth embodiment of a lighter ofthe invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view seen along arrow XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view seen along arrow XIII of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an axial section view of an eighth embodiment of a lighter ofthe invention.

The four lighters 100, 300, 500, and 700 of the invention and shownrespectively in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 7 all have the same tank 10. Each ofthe three lighters shown respectively in FIGS. 8, 11, and 14 has a tank1000. All of these tanks are intended to contain a flammable mixture Lstored under pressure, and constituted in the present case by 30% bymass of liquefied butane and 70% of a solution of 40 g/l of orthoboricacid in methanol. The mixture is intended to impart a green tint to theflame, but naturally, it is possible to select a different compositionas a function of the tint to be imparted to the flame. In particular, itis possible to use other tinting agents and other flammable volatileliquids, in particular other alcohol solutions of metal salts mixed withother alkanes, in proportions such that the mixture forms a singleliquid phase (i.e. a solution of alcohol and alkane in proportions suchthat they are fully miscible in each other), as explained below.

The tank 10 is formed by uniting a tank bottom body 11 that is circularsymmetrical about an axis of symmetry X, and open to the top with a tanktop body 12 also circularly symmetrical about the same axis, and screwedonto the bottom body 11. An O-ring 13 is interposed radially between thetop body 12 and the bottom body 11 to provide sealed closure of the tank10. Naturally the shape of the tank 10 can be modified without goingbeyond the ambit of the present invention, for example it is possible touse a one-piece tank 10 obtained by molding.

A tapped hole 12f centered on the axis X passes through the top body 12of the tank 10 in order to receive a burner-forming part referencedrespectively 130, 330, and 530 for the lighters shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and5. The end of the tapped hole 12f remote from the tank 10 opens out intoa spot face 12g.

The burner-forming part 130 shown in isolation in FIG. 2B is generallycircularly cylindrical in shape about an axis Y that coincides with theaxis X when the part 130 is engaged in the tapped hole 12f by means of athread extending over a portion 131 of its length, starting from itsbottom end face 130a that is located inside the tank 10. The part 130has a collar 132 that comes axially into abutment against the spot face12g, and above the collar 132 it has a collar 137 of smaller radiuswhich co-operates with a shoulder 139 that extends axially from thecollar 132 away from the bottom end face 130a to define an annularrecess 133 for receiving a sealing ring 150 that is intended to providesealed closure of the burner, as explained below. Above the collar 137,the part 130 has a cylindrical top portion 135. The part 130 has alongitudinal channel 134 passing through it along its axis Y andintended to receive a capillary tube 110. The part 130 has a plane topend face 130b that is perpendicular to the axis Y and the longitudinalchannel 134 opens out into said face to feed a porous filter 160 appliedthereto with the flammable mixture L taken from the bottom of the tank10.

In the example described, the porous filter 160 is constituted by aceramic pellet 160 stuck to the top end face 130b. This ceramic pellet160 is circularly cylindrical in shape about the axis Y, being definedaxially by two plane end faces perpendicular to the axis Y and extendingthe outer cylindrical surface of the top portion 135. The ceramic pellet160 is fed with mixture L via the capillary tube 110, which isrectilinear and extends along the axis X, having its bottom end 110asituated slightly above the bottom 11g of the tank 10 so as to remainimmersed in the mixture L until it has substantially all been used up.The capillary tube 110 extends along the channel 134 passing through thepart 130, and its top end 110b is situated immediately below the ceramicpellet 160. The capillary tube 110 is held axially in the channel 134 bymeans of a drop of adhesive 120 disposed in a cylindrical setback 138formed in the bottom end face 130a of the part 130. In the exampledescribed, the capillary tube 110 is a copper tube, and the ceramicpellet 160 has a height measured along the Y axis lying in the range 1mm to 5 mm, and a diameter of 5 mm.

When the lighter is not in use, a cover 140 covers the surface of theceramic pellet 160 that is exposed to the air so as to avoid loosingmixture L. The cover 140 shown in isolation in FIG. 2A is internallystepped and fits closely over the ceramic pellet 160 and the top portion135 of the part 130, engaging the O-ring 150 in sealing manner, as shownin FIG. 1.

The collar 132 of the part 130 has two recesses 136 in its top face, ascan be seen in plan view looking along arrow II in FIG. 2C, theserecesses are diametrically opposite and intended to engage complementaryprojections of a tool for screwing the part 130 in the tapped hole 12f.The part 130 is preferably made of metal so as to withstand the heat ofthe flame.

In the embodiment described above, as in the three followingembodiments, the tank 10 is filled initially by filling the inside ofthe bottom body 10 with the alcohol solution and then with the top body12 screwed in place, by injecting liquid butane under pressure into thetank 10 by means of a conventional filler device which is shown verydiagrammatically. The filler device comprises a nozzle 20 thatcommunicates with the inside of the tank 10 and a non-return valve 30that is fed during filling from a pipe 40 containing butane underpressure. After filling, the pipe 40 can be disconnected, with thenon-return valve 30 preventing the mixture L contained in the tank 10from escaping.

In this first embodiment of the invention, the porous filter 160 is fedwith flammable mixture by means of a capillary tube 110. Because themixture travelling along the capillary tube is subject to headloss itfeeds the filter at a pressure that is lower than the pressure thatobtains inside the tank, and it also serves to prevent prematuredissociation of the mixture flowing along it by keeping the butane inthe liquid state.

The part 330 fitted to the lighter 300 and shown in isolation in FIG. 4Bis generally circularly cylindrical in shape about an axis Y' thatcoincides with the axis X when the part 330 is screwed into the tappedhole 12f. A portion 331 of length of the part 330 is threaded forassembly in the tapped hole 12f, and the part has a collar 332 forcoming axially into abutment in the spot facing 12g with the sealingring 14 being interposed.

On its top end face, this collar 332 has two diametrically oppositerecesses 336 visible in the plan view looking along arrow IV of FIG. 4C,for engaging complementary projections of a tool (not shown) forscrewing the part 130 into the tapped hole 12f. The collar 332 isextended axially away from the threaded portion 331 by a shoulder 339co-operating with a second collar 337 to define an annular recess 333for receiving a sealing ring 350.

The part 330 has a top end face 330b that is plane and perpendicular tothe axis Y', and between said end face and the collar 337 it has acylindrical portion 335. The part 330 has an internal bore running fromits bottom end face 330a so as to form a cylindrical housing 330c thatis to receive a porous filter 360 together with means for installing itand treating it with flammable mixture L, as described below.

The end of the housing 330c is situated axially level with the collar332, and it communicates with the outside of the lighter via a channel334 extending along the axis Y', having its top end opening out in theend face 330b. The part 330 has a threaded portion 338 extending axiallybetween the bottom end of the threaded portion 331 and the bottom endface 330a, projecting into the tank 10 and serving to receive a rod 310for feeding the porous filter 360 with flammable mixture L. In theexample described, the rod 310 is in the form of a body that isgenerally circularly cylindrical about the axis X, being tapped at itstop end for screw engagement on the threaded portion 338. This portionis naturally of smaller diameter than the threaded portion 331 so as toenable the part 330 to be inserted in the tapped hole 12f.

The length of the rod 310 is selected so that its bottom end 310a leavesa gap between the bottom 11g of the tank 10 and the bottom end 312 of alongitudinal channel 311 running along the rod 310, thereby enabling itto communicate with the inside of the tank 10. The longitudinal channel311 extending along the axis X is of a diameter that is large enough toimpart little headloss to the mixture running therealong and its top end313 opens out into the bottom of the tapped hole 313 that receives thepart 330. The porous filter 360 is held inside the housing 330c betweena bottom support 390 and a top support 370 both having radial outersurfaces that are cylindrical and that fit closely against thecylindrical surface of the housing 330c. The bottom support 390 isdefined axially by two end faces, one bearing against the bottom of thetapped hole 338 and the other against the porous filter 360, and it hasa channel 391 passing therethrough along the axis X.

The top support 370 which is shown in isolation in FIG. 4D has a bottomend face 372 which is plane and perpendicular to the axis X that isintended to rest against the porous filter 360, and the support 370 alsohas a conical housing 371 that opens out into its top end face 373. Thesection of the housing 371 tapers going away from the top end face 373,and the bottom of the housing 371 is connected by a hole 374 to thebottom end face 372. The porous filter 360 is in the form of a ceramicpellet analogous to the above-described pellet 160, being circularlycylindrical about the axis X, and of diameter smaller than the diameterof the housing 330c but larger than the diameter of the longitudinalchannel 312. It is defined axially by two plane end faces perpendicularto the axis X and bearing respectively against the bottom support 390and the top support 370.

A support cone 381 is engaged in the housing 371 and is complementary inshape thereto. This cone 381 has a rectilinear capillary tube 380extending along its axis X with the bottom end thereof being situated inthe hole 374 immediately above the porous filter 360 and the top endthereof opening out into the top end face 330b of the part 330.

The stack constituted by the bottom support 390, the porous filter 360,the top support 370, and the support cone 381 is secured axially againstthe end of the housing 330c and the bottom of the tapped hole 314 byscrewing the rod 310 on the threaded portion 338. A cover 340 that issimilar in shape to the above-described cover 140 prevents the mixture Lfrom escaping while the lighter is not in use.

When the cover 340 is removed, the mixture L rises under the effect ofthe pressure of the gas situated above the surface of the mixture L inthe tank 10, passing along the channel 311 of the rod 310 and thechannel 391 of the bottom support, it expands as it passes through theporous filter 360, and it leaves in at least partially liquid form atlow relative pressure via the top end of the capillary tube 380, to burnwhen ignited by any known igniter means (not shown).

The burner-forming part 530 fitted to the lighter 500 is generallycircularly symmetrical in shape about an axis Y" which coincides withthe axis X when the part 530 is mounted in the top body 12. This part isthreaded over a portion 531 of its length extending from its bottom endface 530a so as to screw in the tapped hole 12f, and it has a collar 532that comes axially into abutment against the spot facing 12g with asealing washer 14 being interposed. The portion of the part 530extending above the collar 532 is identical to the portion of the part330 extending above the collar 332 and is not described again.

The bottom of the part 530 has a conical housing 530c which opens outinto the bottom front face 530a, and its section tapers going awaytherefrom. A longitudinal channel 534 extending along the axis Y" passesthrough the part 530 from its top front face 530b to the end of thehousing 530c.

The length of the threaded portion 531 is greater than the length of thetapped hole 12f, so the part 530 projects into the tank 10 for mountinga capillary tube 510. More particularly, the capillary tube 510 ismounted by means of a first support cone 555 inserted in part in thehousing 530c. This cone 555 is held in place by screwing a retainingring 550 onto the threaded portion 531 of the part 530 and at its bottomend it is of section that is larger than the section of the opening530c, thereby making it possible to achieve sealed clamping of the conein the housing 530c by tightening the ring 550. The ring has twodiametrically opposite setbacks 551 for receiving complementaryprojections of a tool for tightening it.

The support cone 555 has the capillary tube 510 passing therethroughwhich extends along the longitudinal channel 534 above the cone 555 tothe top end face 530b, and which also extends beneath the cone 555through a hole 552 in the ring 550 to the vicinity of a porous filter560.

The filter is held in place close to the bottom of the tank 10 by asupport 520 which is fixed by its bottom end face to the bottom 11g ofthe tank 10. The porous filter is received in an internal housing 521that is circularly cylindrical about an axis Z that coincides with theaxis X when the support is in place in the tank 10, and the filter 560is held axially fixed against the end of the housing 521 by a ring 522that is interposed 15 axially between the porous filter 560 and thebottom 11g of the tank 10. The ring 522 has diametrically oppositeradial channels 522a as shown in the view from beneath of FIG. 6D andthe support 520 is provided with radial openings so as to allow themixture L to reach the inside of the ring 522 and the bottom end face ofthe porous filter 560. As in the preceding embodiment, the filter is inthe form of a circularly cylindrical ceramic pellet.

The top of the support 520 has a conical housing 523 opening out intoits top end face 520b. The section of the housing 523 tapers towards thebottom end face 520a and the bottom of the housing 523 communicates withthe end of the housing 521 via a hole 524.

A support cone 556 is inserted in part into the housing 523 to hold thebottom portion of the capillary tube 510 in place.

The top portion of the cone 556 has a section that is greater than thesection of the opening to the housing 523 such that its top end faceprojects above the top end face of the support 520. The cone 556 canthen be clamped in the housing 523 by tightening a ring identical toabove-described ring 550 which engages an outside thread 527 of thesupport 520.

When the lighter 500 is not in operation, the top end of the part 530 iscovered by a cover 540 identical to above-described cover 340. Theporous filter 560 situated close to the bottom of the tank remainsimmersed and impregnated with the mixture L until nearly all of it hasbeen used up. When the lighter is in operation, the mixture L passesthrough the radial passages 522a in the ring 522 and the openings in thesupport 520, expands as it passes through the porous filter 560, andpenetrates into the bottom end of the capillary tube 510, and it leavesthe capillary tube 510 still partially in the form of a liquid via thetop end of the tube outside the lighter 500.

The lighter 700 shown in FIG. 7 differs from the lighter 300 shown inFIG. 3 by the fact that the rod 310 and the bottom support 390 areomitted, the rod 310 being replaced by a capillary tube 710 held by acone 755 identical to above-described cone 555 and engaged in part in asupport 770 identical to support 370 but mounted the opposite way up inthe housing 330c, the new assembly being held axially in the housing330c by tightening a ring 750 identical to the ring 550. The bottom end710a of the capillary tube 710 opens out close to the bottom of the tank10 in order to extract mixture L until the mixture has nearly all beenused up.

Without going beyond the ambit of the invention, the above-describedcovers used to prevent the mixture L escaping can be replaced by anyknown valve device suitable for use in gas lighters.

The capillary tubes used in the embodiments described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7 have an inside diameter of 0.25 mm. Naturally, thisdiameter could be modified to set the flow rate of the mixture to anydesired value.

The tank 1000 of the lighters shown in FIGS. 8, 11, and 14 is formed byscrewing together a tank bottom body and a tank top body, with an O-ring1005 being interposed for sealing purposes. The bottom body of the tankis identical in all of the lighters shown in FIGS. 8, 11, and 14 and itis given reference 1001. It is elongate along a longitudinal axis whichalso constitutes a general axis of symmetry T for the embodiments ofFIGS. 8 to 14. Naturally, it is also possible to use a tank bottom body1001 having a cross-section other than circular, e.g. oval. The bottombody 1001 has a filler duct 1002 formed in its base and opening out atone end through the bottom 1003 of the body, the other end of the ductopening out in the radially outermost side surface of the body. Aconventional non-return valve (not shown) is housed inside the duct 1002for filling the tank.

A porous filter support 1010 is mounted at the bottom end of a capillarytube given respective references 1015, 1115, and 1215 in the embodimentsof FIGS. 8, 11, and 14. This capillary tube dips into the tank 1000 andits top end is open outside the tank.

The porous filter support 1010 is generally in the form of a circularcylinder about an axis of symmetry R having a central opening 1011passing therethrough on said axis and in which the capillary tube isengaged. One end of the central opening 1011 opens out in the top endface of the support 1010, and its other end is enlarged to form ahousing 1013 which opens out into the bottom end face of the support1010 and which is intended to receive a porous filter 1020 of the sametype as those described above. The axis of symmetry R of the support1010 is inclined slightly relative to the longitudinal axis T of thetank bottom body 1001 so as to leave a gap 1014 between the bottom endface of the support 1010 and the bottom 1003 of the tank bottom body1001, thereby enabling the liquid mixture L to reach the porous filter1020. The filter comes axial into abutment against the end of thehousing 1013 and it is held therein by sealing means 1021 engagedbetween the radially outer surface of the filter 1020 and the radiallyinner surface of the housing 1013. These sealing means 1021 areconstituted in the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 8, 11,and 14 by an annular layer of tin, the porous filter 1020 beingconstituted by a ceramic pellet that is tinned on its radially outersurface, and the support 1010 is made of copper. In a variant, it ispossible to provide the periphery of the porous filter 1020 with a"Teflon" ring which is forced into the hosing 1013. The capillary tubes1015, 1115, and 1215 of the lighters shown in FIGS. 8, 11, and 14 areheld where they leave the support 1010 by a drop of solder or adhesive1022 applied to the top end face of the support 1010.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the capillary tube 1015 passes through thetank top body, given reference 1030 inside an assembly piece 1040 thatis circularly symmetrical about an axis U parallel to the longitudinalaxis T of the bottom body 1001 of the tank. The assembly piece 1040 isengaged in a spot face 1041 whose bottom end opens out into the tank1000. The spot face 1041 is extended at its top end via a tapped hole1042 which opens to the outside of the tank top body 1030. The assemblypart 1040 has a bottom portion 1047 that fits inside the spot face 1041,with its radially outer surface including a groove that receives asealing O-ring 1043 that is interposed radially between the assemblypart 1040 and the radially inside surface of the spot face 1041. Theassembly part 1040 includes a threaded top portion 1043 that is screwedinto the tapped hole 1042. The capillary tube 1015 passes along theinside of the assembly part 1040 on its axis U via a central opening1044, and it is held in place in the assembly part 1040 by means of adrop of adhesive or solder 1045 applied to the bottom end face thereof.The capillary tube 1015 leaves the assembly part 1040 outside thelighter via a coil-shaped portion 1052 that is intended to recover someof the heat given off by the flame.

A tube 1055 having an inside diameter greater than that of the capillarytube 1015 is connected end to end therewith to constitute a mixturevaporizing duct. In the example described, the vaporing duct tube 1055used has an outside diameter that is identical to that of the capillarytube 1015.

FIG. 9 shows the coil portion 1052 and the vaporizing duct tube 1055that extends it. The capillary tube 1014 leaves the assembly part 1040rectilinearly along the axis U. The corresponding portion is referenced1051a. The axis U corresponds to the interaction of two mutuallyperpendicular planes defining four quadrants respectively referenced Q1,Q2, Q3, and Q4 in the clockwise direction about the axis U, as shown inFIG. 10. The portion 1051a extends into the first quadrant Q1 via acurvilinear portion 1051b which, when seen from above, describes aU-shape with its branches extending parallel to the plane between thequadrants Q1 and Q2. The curvilinear portion 1051b extends upwards inthe second quadrant Q2 via a portion 1053 describing substantially anarc of a helix over an angle of approximately 75° about the axis U. Thecapillary tube 1015 intersects the plane between quadrants Q1 and Q2perpendicularly. As a result, the junction plane between the capillarytube 1015 and the vaporization duct tube 1055 contains the axis ofsymmetry U and is at an angle of about 75° relative to the planeseparating quadrants Q1 and Q2. The portion 1053 is extended by aportion 1056 of the vaporizing duct tube 1055 describing the same helixas the portion 1053 over an angle of approximately 115° about the axisU. Together, the portions 1053 and 1056 as seen from above describeapproximately a semicircle centered on the axis U and extending parallelto a plane P that is inclined at 75° relative to the axis U. The portion1056 extends clockwise in FIG. 10 from the junction plane between thequadrants Q3 and Q4 in the form of a curvilinear portion 1057 terminatedby an outlet section 1059 that is coaxial about the axis U and it liesbeneath the plane which is tangential with the top of the combinedportions 1053 and 1056 and parallel to the plane P. The outlet section1059 is thus situated beneath a plane P' perpendicular to the axis U andtangential to the top of the portion 1056 of the vaporizing duct tube1055. In the embodiment described, the inside diameter of the tube 1055forming the vaporizing duct lies in the range 0.5 mm to 1 mm and theinside diameter of the capillary tube is 0.33 mm. The axis U alsocorresponds to the axis of the flame when the lighter is alight, saidaxis being vertical under normal conditions of use.

A shutter actuated by a pushbutton 1061 is hinged about an axis 1062 toa support 1060 connected to the tank top body 1030. The axis 1062 iscontained in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis T. Thepushbutton 1061 has an end 1061a on which the user acts, and an oppositeend with a downwardly curved snuffer 1062 which covers the capillarytube 1015 and the vaporizing duct tube 1055 to protect them when thepushbutton is at rest. The snuffer 1062 is provided on its bottomsurface with a gasket 1063 that presses, when no pressure is beingexerted on the pushbutton 1061, on the outlet section 1059 of thevaporizing duct tube 1055 to close it. In the embodiment described, theangular displacement of the pushbutton 1061 is 80°. The pushbutton 1061is urged towards its closure position in conventional manner by a spring(not shown).

A flint wheel 1064 is mounted to rotate on the support 1060 about anaxis parallel to the axis 1062 and a flint 1066 is pressed against thewheel 1064 in conventional manner to produce ignition sparks when thewheel is rotated by the user. The flint 1066 is slidably mounted in ablind hole 1067 formed in the tank top body 1030 and it is urged againstthe wheel 1064 by a return spring (not shown) operating in compressionbetween the end of the blind hole 1067 and the bottom end face of theflint 1066.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the capillary tube,referenced 1115, passes through the tank top body 1130 via a steppedpassage 1131. This passage 1131 is circularly cylindrical about an axisparallel to the axis T and its top end opens to the outside of thelighter while its bottom end is enlarged to form a housing 1133 whoseown bottom end opens out into the tank 1000. The housing 1133 receives asealing part 1140 with the capillary tube 1115 passing axiallytherethrough. The sealing part 1140 is generally circularly symmetricaland its radially outer surface has an annular groove for receiving asealing O-ring 1142. The ring is interposed radially between the sealingpart 1140 and the housing 1133. Sealing between the capillary tube 1115and the part 1140 is provided by a drop of adhesive or solder 1141applied to the capillary tube and to the bottom end face of the part1140. The capillary tube 1115 extends perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis T where it leaves the tank top body 1130 outside thelighter, after which it follows a 90° bend to be connected to avaporization duct 1160. The capillary tube extends over the tank topbody 1130 parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis T andreferenced P"' in FIG. 13.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the vaporization duct isformed inside a flame guard 1150 which is U-shaped when seen in planview, as shown more particularly in FIG. 13, the concave side of theU-shape facing towards an axis W parallel to the longitudinal axis T ofthe tank bottom body 1001, and the branches of the U-shape extendparallel to the plane P"'. The flame guard 1150 is preferablyconstituted by two stamped metal sheets assembled to each other andforming between them the above-mentioned vaporization duct 1160. Theinside diameter of this duct is greater than that of the capillary tubeand preferably lies in the range 0.5 mm to 1 mm. In the curvilinearportion of the U-shape, the vaporization duct 1160 extends parallel to aplane perpendicular to the axis W, and then in the branch of the U-shaperemote from that into which the capillary tube 1115 opens out extendsdownwards towards the tank top body 1130. At the base of the flame guard1150, the duct 1160 connects to an outlet tube 1155 that follows a rightangle bend and whose outlet section 1156 is coaxial about the axis W.Sealing between the capillary tube 1115 and the vaporization duct 1160inside the flame guard 1150 is achieved by clamping the capillary tubebetween stamped portions of the two pieces of sheet metal constitutingit. The outlet section 1156 is situated beneath the plane that istangential with the top of the vaporization duct 1160, such that whenthe lighter is in operation said duct is subjected to the heat given offby the flame.

A shutter actuated by a pushbutton 1161 is hinged about an axis 1162 ona support 1163 fitted to the tank top body 1130. A flint wheel 1164 ismounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis 1162 to strike inconventional manner against a flint 1166 located in a blind hole 1167 ofthe tank top body 1130. The flint 1166 is urged against the wheel 1164by a spring operating in compression and not shown. The pushbutton 1161serves to rotate two branches 1161b that extend away from theuser-engaging portion 1161a, on either side of a midplane of the flintwheel and perpendicularly to its axis. These two branches 1161b areunited by a bridge of matter 1161c at their ends remote from the portion1161a. A gasket 1163 for pressing against the outlet section 1156 of theoutlet tube 1155 is disposed beneath the bridge of matter 1161c to closethe outlet tube when the pushbutton is at rest. The pushbutton 1161 isurged towards its closure position by a spring (not shown).

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the capillary tube 1215 is inserted at itstop end in a support part 1240. This support part 1240 has a bottomportion 1245 and a top portion 1241 that are assembled together by screwengagement after a non-return valve member 1250 and a return spring 1252therefor has been mounted inside these two portions. The non-returnvalve member 1250 is guided in sliding by the support part 1240 along anaxis V parallel to the longitudinal axis T of the tank bottom body 1001.The top portion 1241 is generally in the form of a sleeve having insideand outside threads and narrowed inwardly at its top end through whichthe valve body 1250 passes to form a radially inner collar 1243. The topportion 1241 is screwed into a tapped hole 1233 of the tank top body1230 until it comes into axial abutment against a transverse shoulder1231 defining the bottom of said tapped hole. The tapped hole 1233 isextended beneath the shoulder 1231 by a circularly cylindrical surface1232 about the axis V, having an inside diameter that is smaller thanthat of the tapped hole 1233 and opening out at its bottom end into thetank 1000.

The bottom portion 1245 of the support part 1240 is threaded at its topend 1246 for screw engagement inside the top portion 1241. It has aninternal bore at 1247 extending from its end face over about one-thirdof its length to receive the top end of the capillary tube 1215. Thetube is held in the bore 1247 by a drop 1248 of solder or of adhesive.The bottom portion 1245 of the support part 1240 has an internal borestepped at 1249 and extending from its top end face to guide thenon-return valve member 1250 in sliding. A gasket 1251 mounted at thebottom end of the non-return valve member 1251 is urged by the spring1252 against the bottom of the bore 1249. The capillary tube 1215communicates with the bottom of the bore 1249 via a channel 1244 that iscoaxial with the axis V and that has the same diameter as the insidediameter of the capillary tube 1215. The non-return valve member 1250has an inside bore 1255 extending along its entire length from thegasket 1251 to its top end for ejecting the mixture. When the gasket1251 is lifted off the bottom of the bore 1249 by action on thepushbutton 1270, as explained in greater detail below, the mixtureleaves the lighter via the bore 1255 that also constitutes avaporization duct. In accordance with the invention, the mixture escapesfrom the tank 1000 via the capillary tube 1215 into the non-return valvemember 1250, at least partially in the liquid state. A heat conductingrod 1260 for ensuring complete vaporization of the mixture before itleaves the non-return valve member 1250 to be burnt, extends inside thebore 1255 and at its bottom end it has a leg secured in the non-returnvalve member 1250. This member has an outside shoulder to form a bearingsurface for the bottom end of the return spring 1252, the top endthereof being retained by an internal collar 1243 of the top portion1241 of the support part 1240. A radial channel 1256 is provided toallow the mixture L to pass along the central bore 1255 of thenon-return valve member when it is moved upwards by the pushbutton 1270so that the gasket 1251 no longer closes the channel 1244.

The non-return valve member 1250 is provided at its top end projectingfrom the support part 1240 with a collar that projects radially outwardsand beneath which there is applied the edge of a hole in one of thebranches of the pushbutton 1270 of the purpose of raising the member1250 and causing the mixture L to escape via the central bore 1255. Thecontrol pushbutton 1270 is mounted on a support 1280 fitted to orintegrally formed with the tank top body 1230, so as to rotate about anaxis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis T of the tank bottom body1001.

As in the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 11,the lighter shown in FIG. 14 is fitted with a flint wheel 1290 and witha flint 1300 that are identical to those described above and that arenot described again.

Preferably, as shown, the top end of the rod 1260 projects upwards fromthe non-return valve member 1250 so as to extract heat from the core ofthe flame.

The mixture, while still at least partially liquid, escapes from thetank 1000 into the vaporization ducts 1055, 1160, or 1255 as describedabove, where it is subjected to the heat of the flame. These ducts havean inside diameter greater than that of the corresponding capillarytubes 1055, 1115, and 1215 situated upstream therefrom, thus making itpossible to avoid a pressure increase due to the heat given off by theflame since that would serve to extinguish the flame.

The porous filters described are constituted by ceramic pelletsadvantageously having a pore size lying in the range 1 μm to 10 μm, withpore size being defined herein as the smallest size of particlescontained in the liquid passing through the ceramic that would beretained thereby. This pore size is large enough to avoid filtering thetinting agent used and small enough for passage through the porousfilter to be accompanied by headloss that enables the mixture to beexpanded appropriately. The present invention is not limited to theseembodiments for the porous filter. Thus, it is possible to replaceceramic pellets as described with porous filters made of sinteredplastics material, or of sintered metals or oxides, and it is alsopossible to alter the shapes of the porous filters described.

Finally, in order to tint the flame of a lighter, the invention makes itpossible to use a tinting agent that is mixed with a flammable volatileliquid stored under pressure by using a porous filter to expand themixture which is sent, while still at least partially in the liquidstate, i.e. in the form of a mixture of gas and liquid, to the outsideof the tank in order to be burnt. The porous filter is fed by themixture while it is in the liquid state and under pressure, preferablyby means that form a duct for extracting liquid from the bottom of thetank, as described above. Advantageously, the use of a capillary tubeupstream from the porous filter serves to add additional headloss andreduce the pressure of the mixture L reaching the porous filter. In suchcircumstances, the porous filter is preferably located above the levelof the mixture L in the tank when the lighter is in its normal positionfor use, i.e. when the axis X is vertical as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7.In a variant, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 8 to 14, theporous filter is constantly immersed in the mixture. In the embodimentsof FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the use of a capillary tube downstream from theporous filter serves to add additional headloss. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, by using two capillary tubes, one placed upstream and the otherdownstream from the filter, too high a differential pressure is avoidedacross the filter. In the embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 14, the use of avaporization duct downstream from the capillary tube conveying themixture to the outside of the tank serves to vaporize the mixture whileavoiding clogging the capillary tube or the duct with premature depositof tinting agent, and to obtain an elongate flame similar to that of aconventional gas lighter. One possible explanation may lie in theentrainment effect due to the speed of the gas in the vaporization ductsubjected to the heat given off by the flame. This entrainment effectserves to remove any deposit that may accumulate in the vaporizationduct. Naturally, the lighters described can be fitted with aconventional valve for adjusting the height of the flame.

We claim:
 1. A tinted flame lighter having a tank (10; 1000) suitablefor containing a mixture (L) under pressure of a tinting agent and aflammable volatile liquid, the lighter being characterized in that itcomprises a porous filter (160; 360; 560; 1020) suitable for expandingthe mixture delivered to the outside of the tank in order to be burntwhile it is still partially in the liquid state, and means for feedingthe porous filter with the mixture (L) while it is in the liquid state,a vaporization duct (1055; 1160; 1255) situated outside the tank (1000)and fed with the mixture (L) expanded by the porous filter (1020), saidvaporization duct being subjected in use of the lighter to the heat ofthe flame, wherein the vaporization duct (1160) is integrated in a partconstituting a flame guard (1150).
 2. A lighter according to claim 1,characterized in that the vaporization duct (1160) is formed between twoassembled-together stamped metal sheets of the flame guard forming part(1150).
 3. A lighter according to claim 2, characterized in that thecapillary tube (1115) situated downstream from the porous filter isconnected at one end to said vaporization duct (1160), in that said ductextends along a curve that is convex and is connected to an outlet tube(1155).